The shortage of water resources in Central Asia, expected to be acutely felt by 2028, calls for the creation of an international water and energy consortium in the region, according to a study by the Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) on water conservation and irrigation issues in the region, TASS reports.
"By 2028, a combination of climate change, the onset of a low-water period, and the commissioning of the Kosh-Tepa canal in Afghanistan will lead the Central Asian region to a severe chronic deficit of water resources. The region requires a consolidated regional approach. One of the most effective solutions is the establishment of an International Water and Energy Consortium for Central Asia," the study states.
"The consortium could focus on implementing irrigation projects alongside energy projects. Its creation would facilitate interaction and dialogue between multilateral development banks and the states of the region," emphasized the EDB. The bank advocated for the development of partnerships between the countries in the region and Afghanistan in the field of transboundary water resources.
The EDB also proposed the creation of a regional cluster specializing in modern irrigation equipment. According to the bank's assessment, the irrigation infrastructure in Central Asia is characterized by high physical wear and a lack of technical sophistication. As a result, "the efficiency of water use in agriculture [in the region] is low. 40% of water is lost in the irrigation canal system," the study underscores.
In early November, the Chairman of the EDB Board Nikolay Podguzov announced that the bank plans to invest over $400 million in the development of the water and energy complex in Central Asia in the next three years.
CentralasianLIGHT.org
November 16, 2023